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How to wear bronzer

I'm a huge fan of bronzer—it instantly makes you look healthy and beautiful. But I was never sure I was doing it right and didn't want to end up looking orange or glittery, like a teenager. So! We partnered with Nordstrom to try out their Midnight Bronze collection, and with the help of makeup artist Ashlee Glazer, we figured out how to use bronzer to get that effortless glow—and, basically, just look really, really pretty. Here's how...

"Everyone should wear bronzer," Ashlee told us. "It makes you look healthy and alive." Our friends Gaby and Chekesha came over to play around with makeup, and the wonderful Julia Robbs took photos. Here are their two different looks...LOOK #1: GOLDEN GODDESS.

1-2. You want a very natural look, so choose a bronzer just a shade or two darker than your skin tone. Using a rounded brush, apply the bronzer in the shape of a number three on both sides of your face: along the hairline, over the cheekbones and along the jawline. Your goal is to cover all the spots the sun would hit.

3-4. To look extra radiant—as if your face is lit from within—apply a highlighting bronzer right above your cheekbones, sweeping it out toward your hairline. (The highlighter looks so pretty when it catches the light!)

5. Using a short-haired brush, apply gold cream eyeshadow (this cream shadow was wearable even for daytime) to the center of the lid. Then buff outward, until your entire eyelid is covered.

6. Finish off the look with a peach lip gloss, which brightens up your whole face.Gorgeous, right? The Bobbi Brown shimmer brick made her look so radiant and looks great on all different skin tones. And here's how to get Gaby's look...LOOK #2: DEWY AND FRESH.

1-2. Squeeze a small amount of liquid illuminating bronzer onto clean fingertips. (This illuminator really makes skin look dewy and luminous—we were flipping out about it at the shoot. It's much lighter on the skin that it looks in the bottle.)

3. Rub the bronzer in a number-three formation on each side of your face: along the hairline, over the cheekbones and along the jaw line. Be sure to blend well. Don't forget to put some bronzer on your neck, too, since want your face to match the rest of your body. If you're wearing your hair up, you can rub a bit of bronzer behind your ears and neck, as well.

4. Draw a thin line of blue shadow as close to the lash line as possible. Then draw a thicker line over the entire lid and blend with your finger until the color reaches the crease of your eyelid.

5-6. Apply a shimmering apricot lip gloss to make lips look shiny and plump.Side note: I never thought I'd want to wear blue eyeshadow, but I LOVE THIS ONE. The eye color stick draws an amazing thick line and looks gorgeous.Aren't these lovely looks for spring and summer? Which would you choose? I always turn to Nordstrom for beauty products—they carry everything and offer free shipping and free returns all the time. They also have beauty events around the country; find them all here. Thank you so much, Nordstrom!

I have never worn bronzer, but I always wear blush. I feel like they basically accomplish the same thing: giving a little colour to your cheeks, though obviously they have a different effect (rosy vs. tan). While these ladies obviously look great, I'm not convinced I like the bronzer look better, though - I think I prefer my skin to look light and rosy as opposed to sun-kissed... But I guess I'd have to try it on myself to see!

Bronzer has become one of my bare minimum staples -- a little metallic eye shadow, mascara, bronzer, and lip gloss. Concealer on a rough day. An easy classic look I can pull off in three minutes. Just ordered the Dr. Hauschka liquid bronzing tint -- so curious to see if it's as good as I've heard!

Wow I LOVE that blue eyeshadow. Especially with my blue eyes I think it would look nice and something new! As far as bronzer, I use it most days to warm up my complexion and just use it with a soft hand. Also, I need those pants Gaby is wearing in my life.

A makeup artist taught me this trick once: The most universally flattering and often overlooked spot to apply bronzer is right at the top of the forehead along your hairline. It warms up the whole face, and it's impossible to mess up!

I love the bronzer and shimmer on both of you. I've been using a light matte bronzer for contouring for a while now but I've always been a little scared to try shimmer products. It looks really fresh and gorgeous on the two of you, I'm tempted to try. Love the blog btw <3

Physician's Formula makes a wide range of great bronzers, and even shades that are light enough for pale skin. They make both shimmery and non shimmery bronzers. I personally can't do shimmery anything on my face... when is that ever appropriate for a professional? Maybe for a model or a blogger...

Anyway. If you are really pale, you might want to try the lightest shade of Physician's Formula you can find. I will never waste money on a department store bronzer again!

These are such great looks. I've worn bronzer every single day for years! I think it's a must for my pale skin. I've used neutrogenia and Clinique but just recently tried the Nars in Laguna - it's amazing. Would love to try that illuminator as well!

Lovely! I've been needing a new bronzer so it's nice to see them applied. I had switched to blush over winter, but hooray for spring! I also want to say that I really appreciate the way you guys photograph and model women. These ladies are so lovely, natural and real, and they look happy! Your models always look like girls I'd want to hang out with. Kudos!

I didn't know that bronzer is to be found as powder also. I am approaching my mid 30s and until now I could get away make-up free. But now I feel this has to change so your post comes at a perfect time for me.

Thanks! Your Romanian fan.

You can check my tips for organizing beauty products:http://joyacoustics.blogspot.ro/2014/04/12-tips-for-organising-beauty-products.html

Nica, I used to go to sephora before I had kids but now I don't have enough time to shop so I order everything online. And I met gaby through my friend Wesley and adore her and keke was introduced to me through my friend erica. We paid her a fee because modeling is her job but that's not how we originally met. I also am super close friends with Kendra (we hang out with our children, travel together, etc) and I pay her for styling and I'm friends with alpha and julia and I pay them for photography, etc.....even if people are friends with me, I still pay them if they're doing their job and helping me out with my site. It just seems fair. Thanks xo